Law & Order: Dennis Farina Dies at 69

Veteran character actor Dennis Farina has died at the age of 69. He passed earlier today in Scottsdale, Arizona and a cause of death was not released.

Farina served as a cop in Chicago for nearly 20 years before becoming an actor at age 37. He was a police consultant for Michael Mann and worked in Chicago theatre while still a police officer.

He played a mobster on Miami Vice and then went on to play cops or mobsters in more than 75 TV shows and movies. He was perhaps best know for playing Detective Joe Fontana on Law & Order.

Of Farina’s passing, Law & Order executive producer Dick Wolf said, “I was stunned and saddened to hear about Dennis’ unexpected passing this morning. The Law & Order family extends sympathy and condolences to his family. He was a great guy.”